A wonderfully illustrated exploration of one of Hokusais key motifs Mount Fuji. Hokusais Thirtysix Views of Mount Fuji and the three volumes of his subsequent One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji show his fascination with a single motif Mount Fuji. Hokusais nearobsession with Fuji was part of his hankering after artistic immortality in Buddhist and Daoist tradition Fuji was thought to hold the secret to eternal life as one popular interpretation of its name suggests Fushi not death. Thirtysix Views of Mount Fuji was produced from c. 1830 to 1832 when Hokusai was in his seventies and at the height of his career. Among the prints are three of the artists most famous The Great Wave off Kanagawa Fine Wind Clear Morning and Thunderstorm Beneath the Summit. By the time he created his second great tribute to Mount Fuji three volumes comprising One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji he was using the artist names Gakyo rojin Old Man Crazy to Paint and Manji Ten Thousand Things or Everything. Contrasting the mountains steadfastness and solidity with the ravages of the surrounding elements Hokusai depicts Fuji through different seasons weather conditions and settings and in so doing communicates an important message while life changes Fuji stands still. Including all the illustrations from these two masterpieces this book also features many of Hokusais earlier renditions of the mountain as well as later paintings. In this way through Mount Fuji this volume traces a history of Hokusais oeuvre overall.